Safety device for ships.



W. F. CLAUD.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 4, 1914.

Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

W. F. CLAUD.

SAFETY DEVICE EUR sHlPs.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 4, 1914.

II59. Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.. WAIHINUNJN. D. c.

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SAFETY DEVICE FOR SHIPS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915..

Application filed November 4, 1914. Serial No. 870,286.

To all 'wh-0m it may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM F. CLAUD,

a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at lfortsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Ships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in safety devices or protectors for ships and other water craft and has particular application to a bow carried protector.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a safety device for ships which will be carried by the bow of the vessel and whereby the vessel will be enabled to glide off of the side of another vessel in the event ofa collision and whereby the shock due to the impact between the vessels will be largely absorbed or-taken up.

It is also my purpose to provide a device of the class described whereby the passengers on the ship will be automatically advised when the impact takes place.

A. further object of my invention is the provision of a safety device for water craft which will embrace the desired features of simplicity, efficiency and durability, which may be installed and maintained at a comparatively small expense and whereby the staving` in of the side of the ship struck and the mutilation of the bow of the ramming ship will be avoided.

l/Viththe above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a ship equipped with a safety device constructed 1n accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of a ship equipped with my improved safety device Vramming a second ship. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional v iew through the forepart of the ship showing the relative positions of the various parts of the safety device. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4&4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 isa like view f on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Vother pair.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, A designates the bow ofa shi Formed in the side walls of the bow of t e ship at opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof are pairs of openings 1, the openings of each pair being disposed one above the other and alining with the openings of the Passed through the pairs of openings 1 are horizontal shafts 2 disposed one above the other and secured to the outer extremities of the shafts 2 is a substantially V-shaped frame 3 having the apex thereof in alinement with the longitudinal center line of the vessel and the side walls spaced apart from the respective' side walls of the bow of the vessel. Secured to the top and bottom edges of the frame 3 at the apex thereof are vertically alining bearings 4 and journaled in these bearings is a vertical shaft `5 carrying a metal roller 6 provided with a covering of rubber 7 or analogous material, and formed on the top and bottom edges of the frame 3 and projecting outwardly therefrom at the extremities thereof are vertically alining bearings 8 in which are journaled vertical shafts 9 carrying metal rollers 10 covered with rubber 11. Disposed within each opening 1 and surrounding the shaft therein is a boxing 12 provided with rollers 13 disposed at the opposite sides of the shaft and designed to permit the latter to move inwardly freely when the rollers on the frame 3 impact against another vessel.

The shafts 2 are preferably disposed in a plane between two decks of the vessel and the inner ends of such4 shafts pass through a transverse bar 14 extending across the bow of the vessel between the floor of one deck and the ceiling of the next lower deck and having the ends thereof suitably secured to the sidewalls of the vessel. This bar 14 is preferably reinforced through the medium of brace bars 15. Encircling the shafts 2 upon the front side of the brace bar 14 are compression springs 16 having the inner ends thereof abutting the bar 14 and the outer extremities engaging the end portions of a plate 17 spanning the space between the pairs of shafts and fixed to the latter, while encircling the shafts 2 behind the bar 14 are coiled retractile springs 18 having the outer ends thereof suitably secured to the bar 14 and the remaining ends appropriately fastened to the extremities of the respective shafts 2.

In the present instance, horizontal rods 19 corresponding in number with the shafts 2 are passed through the side walls of the bow of the ship and have the outer ends thereof secured to the inner side of the frame 3 and the inner extremities fastened to the plate 17, the rods 19 coacting with the shafts 2 to reinforce the structure of the safety device. In practice, should a vessel equipped with my improved safety device ram a second vessel,the bow of the first vessel striking the side of the second vessel, as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the shafts 2 and rods 19 will move inwardly and in the inward movement of the rods the compression springs 16 will be compressed while the retractile springs 18 will be expanded, thereby absorbing the shock due to the impact between' the vessels and enabling the ramming vessel to be swung around so that such vessel will glide od of the rammed ship, the

. rollers enabling the ramming vessel to glide off of the side of the other vessel. As the rollers ride over the side of the struck vessel, the rubber covering on such rollers eliminates friction and so enables the particular vessel to glide away fromtlie struck ship easily and noiselessly, the springs 16 and 18 reacting and restoring lthe frame 3 to normal position when the pressure on such frame is removed.

In order that the passengers of the ship may be warned when the frame 3 moves inwardly under the impact, a circuit closer 20 is disposed in the path of movement of a lug 21 on one of the rods 19 and this circuit closer controls an electric circuit 22 including a suitable source of electrical energy and signals located in the respective state-- rooms on the vessel, a visual signal and an vaudible signal being preferably located in each stateroom of the'vessel.r Thus, when the circuit 22 is closed, the signals in the Staterooms are energized and the occupants of such rooms notified that the vessel has struck a second vessel or other object.

Cordsv 23 and 24 are preferably connected with the circuit closer 20 and extend into thel pilot house of the ship and by means of these cords 23 and 24 the circuit closer may be opened and closed by the pilot of the vessel whenever necessary. Thus, should the side of the ship be struck by the bow of another vessel the pilot of the rammed vessel may notify the passengers of the impending danger by pulling the cord 24 and closingfthe circuit closer whereby the circuit'will be closed and the signals energized.

From the foregoing description taken in connectionv with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved safety device will be readily apparent.

It will be seen that I have provided a safety device for vessels whereby the shock due to the bow of one vessel striking against the side of another vessel will be cushioned and the striking vessel enabled to glide off of the side of the vessel struck without staving in the side and bow of the respective vessels.

lVhile I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, I wish it to be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the bow of a ship having pairs of openings formed in the side walls thereof, boxings within said openings, shafts passed through said boxings, rollers journaled in said boxings and disposed at the opposite sides of the respective shafts, a V- shaped frame secured to the outer ends of said shafts, rollers journaled in the outer surfaces of said frame and adapted to impact against the side of a ship in the event of a collision, a bar arranged transversely of the bow of the ship and formed with openings through which said shafts pass, a plate fixed to said shafts in advance of said bar, compression springs surrounding said shafts between said bar and plate, and rctractile springs surrounding said shafts bctween said bar and the inner ends of the shafts and each having one end fastened to the bar and the remaining end secured to the shaft.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with the bow of a ship having pairs of openings formed in the side walls thereof, boxings within said openings, shafts passed through said boxings, rollers journaled in said boxings and disposed at the opposite sides of the respective shafts, a V- shaped frame secured to the outer ends of said shafts, rollers journaled in the outer surfaces of said frame and adapted to impact against the side of a ship in the event of a collision, a bar arranged transversely of the bow of the ship and formed with openings through which said shafts pass, a plate fixed to said shafts in advance of said bar, compression springs surrounding said shafts between said bar and plate, retractile springs surrounding said shafts between said bar and the inner ends of the shafts and each having one end fastened to the bar and In testimony whereof I afix my signature the remaining end secured to the shaft, and in presence of two witnesses.

horizontal rods passed through the bow of WILLIAM F. CLAUD. the ship and having the outer ends secured Witnesses:

to the inner surfaces of said frame and the J. E. ALLEN,

inner extremities fast to said plate. J. E. PARSONS.

C'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

